Curating Encounters: Highlights from the In2IT Festival

This year’s anniversary edition of the In2IT Festival has come to an end, and we are left with wonderful memories – told through bodies, movement, and encounters. The four days of performances, artistic meetings, seminars, and workshops served as a reminder of the importance of dance, not only as something to watch, but as something to take part in.

It was especially moving to experience the audience’s response along the way – becoming co-creators in the festival through active participation in artist talks, writing courses, and workshops. The feedback we have received confirms that this year’s program has touched, challenged, delighted, and engaged a wide and diverse audience.

Curating a dance festival is about more than presenting art through grand stage performances. In2IT’s mission as an international dance festival is to unite local roots with international collaboration – allowing the program to reflect and cultivate dance as an expression of humanity, acceptance, and tolerance.

Through seminars, post-show talks, and courses, spaces are created where the audience – in encounters with artists – can linger, reflect, and build bridges between one another, themselves, and society. It is not necessarily about understanding the other, but about expanding one’s own horizon: challenging preconceived notions and daring to be curious about the unfamiliar. To embrace difference as a strength – not a weakness.

Alleyne Dance opened the festival on October 30 with the powerful work A Night’s Game

From the performance Short Stories – a regional dance project for young dancers with participants from: Operaens Dansekompani, Operaens Ungdomskompani, Team Anetts, Molde Dansekompani, and Trøndertun Fostudium Dans.

Artists-in-residence Iron Skulls presented Famulus 4.0 – a piece that merges artificial intelligence, robotics, and dance.

Kaleidoscope – a sensory performance for the youngest, created by Shi Pratt.

Absence Crew performed Old School, delivering breakdance with plenty of humor.

The moving performance My Orpheus by the Ukrainian company n’ErA Dance.

Linn Ragnarsson presented Worlds End Inside, inspired by embodiment and the philosophy of Merleau-Ponty.

Alleyne Dance performing A Night’s Game

All photos by Odd Inge Teige